The impact of respiratory muscle training on respiratory function in patients with neuromuscular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Abstract Background Neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) can impair respiratory muscle function, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Respiratory muscle training (RMT) is widely used to manage these respiratory complications, but its efficacy across different NMDs remains unclear. This systematic...
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01198-z |
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| author | Nancy Yesenia Ortiz-Garcia Diego Eduardo Rueda-Capristran Ajay Kumar Domenica Alejandra Herrera Angie Carolina Alonso-Ramírez Diana Othón-Martínez Jonathan Reyes-Rivera Frances Marie Mejia Jonathan David Martinez-Illan Carla Isabella Miret Durazo Elda Janette Perez-Moreno Camila Sánchez Cruz Ernesto Calderon Martinez |
| author_facet | Nancy Yesenia Ortiz-Garcia Diego Eduardo Rueda-Capristran Ajay Kumar Domenica Alejandra Herrera Angie Carolina Alonso-Ramírez Diana Othón-Martínez Jonathan Reyes-Rivera Frances Marie Mejia Jonathan David Martinez-Illan Carla Isabella Miret Durazo Elda Janette Perez-Moreno Camila Sánchez Cruz Ernesto Calderon Martinez |
| author_sort | Nancy Yesenia Ortiz-Garcia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) can impair respiratory muscle function, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Respiratory muscle training (RMT) is widely used to manage these respiratory complications, but its efficacy across different NMDs remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the impact of physiotherapy interventions, specifically RMT, on respiratory muscle function in NMD patients. Methods A systematic search of multiple databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane, CRS-Web, PEDro, LILACS, ICTPR, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database, and ClinicalTrials.gov, was conducted up to February 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies evaluating RMT’s effect on lung volumes and respiratory muscle strength in NMD patients were included. Risk of bias assessment was performed using Cochrane Risk of bias tool for RCTs and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohorts. Meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model, and heterogeneity was assessed with I² statistics. Results Sixteen studies were analyzed from 9,626 screened articles. The meta-analysis demonstrated significant improvements in respiratory muscle strength, particularly in maximal inspiratory pressure (MD: 6.83 cmH₂O, 95% CI: 2.08 to 11.58, p < 0.01, I² = 3.8%) and maximal expiratory pressure (MD: 13.05 cmH₂O, 95% CI: 3.65to 22.42, p < 0.01, I² = 43%). No significant improvements were observed in forced vital capacity (MD: 3.13%, 95% CI: -8.06 to 14.34, p = 0.58), sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (MD: 1.47 cmH₂O, 95% CI: -15.45 to 18.39, p = 0.86), forced expiratory volume in one second (MD: -0.02 L, 95% CI: -0.17 to 0.13, p = 0.78), and vital capacity (MD: -0.10 L, 95% CI: -0.31 to 0.11, p = 0.33). Conclusion This review supports the role of respiratory muscle training in improving inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength in patients with neuromuscular diseases. However, variability in study methodologies and patient populations limits the statistical significance of some respiratory parameters. Future studies should aim to standardize interventions and outcome measures to provide more conclusive evidence on the efficacy of RMT. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0100cda116d3496296a509b3558fe0f2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2052-1847 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation |
| spelling | doaj-art-0100cda116d3496296a509b3558fe0f22025-08-20T03:03:45ZengBMCBMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation2052-18472025-07-0117111210.1186/s13102-025-01198-zThe impact of respiratory muscle training on respiratory function in patients with neuromuscular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsNancy Yesenia Ortiz-Garcia0Diego Eduardo Rueda-Capristran1Ajay Kumar2Domenica Alejandra Herrera3Angie Carolina Alonso-Ramírez4Diana Othón-Martínez5Jonathan Reyes-Rivera6Frances Marie Mejia7Jonathan David Martinez-Illan8Carla Isabella Miret Durazo9Elda Janette Perez-Moreno10Camila Sánchez Cruz11Ernesto Calderon Martinez12Universidad Juárez del Estado de DurangoUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoIsra University Faculty of Medicine and Allied Medical SciencesPontificia Universidad Católica de EcuadorPontificia Universidad JaverianaUniversity of Texas Rio Grande ValleyUniversidad Autónoma de San Luis PotosíYale New Haven Health Bridgeport HospitalUniversidad del NoresteCentro de Estudios Universitarios XochicalcoUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoThe University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonAbstract Background Neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) can impair respiratory muscle function, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Respiratory muscle training (RMT) is widely used to manage these respiratory complications, but its efficacy across different NMDs remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the impact of physiotherapy interventions, specifically RMT, on respiratory muscle function in NMD patients. Methods A systematic search of multiple databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane, CRS-Web, PEDro, LILACS, ICTPR, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database, and ClinicalTrials.gov, was conducted up to February 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies evaluating RMT’s effect on lung volumes and respiratory muscle strength in NMD patients were included. Risk of bias assessment was performed using Cochrane Risk of bias tool for RCTs and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohorts. Meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model, and heterogeneity was assessed with I² statistics. Results Sixteen studies were analyzed from 9,626 screened articles. The meta-analysis demonstrated significant improvements in respiratory muscle strength, particularly in maximal inspiratory pressure (MD: 6.83 cmH₂O, 95% CI: 2.08 to 11.58, p < 0.01, I² = 3.8%) and maximal expiratory pressure (MD: 13.05 cmH₂O, 95% CI: 3.65to 22.42, p < 0.01, I² = 43%). No significant improvements were observed in forced vital capacity (MD: 3.13%, 95% CI: -8.06 to 14.34, p = 0.58), sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (MD: 1.47 cmH₂O, 95% CI: -15.45 to 18.39, p = 0.86), forced expiratory volume in one second (MD: -0.02 L, 95% CI: -0.17 to 0.13, p = 0.78), and vital capacity (MD: -0.10 L, 95% CI: -0.31 to 0.11, p = 0.33). Conclusion This review supports the role of respiratory muscle training in improving inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength in patients with neuromuscular diseases. However, variability in study methodologies and patient populations limits the statistical significance of some respiratory parameters. Future studies should aim to standardize interventions and outcome measures to provide more conclusive evidence on the efficacy of RMT.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01198-zNeuromuscular conditionsPhysical therapy modalitiesPulmonary functionRespiratory function testsMuscle strengtheningRespiratory therapy |
| spellingShingle | Nancy Yesenia Ortiz-Garcia Diego Eduardo Rueda-Capristran Ajay Kumar Domenica Alejandra Herrera Angie Carolina Alonso-Ramírez Diana Othón-Martínez Jonathan Reyes-Rivera Frances Marie Mejia Jonathan David Martinez-Illan Carla Isabella Miret Durazo Elda Janette Perez-Moreno Camila Sánchez Cruz Ernesto Calderon Martinez The impact of respiratory muscle training on respiratory function in patients with neuromuscular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation Neuromuscular conditions Physical therapy modalities Pulmonary function Respiratory function tests Muscle strengthening Respiratory therapy |
| title | The impact of respiratory muscle training on respiratory function in patients with neuromuscular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials |
| title_full | The impact of respiratory muscle training on respiratory function in patients with neuromuscular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials |
| title_fullStr | The impact of respiratory muscle training on respiratory function in patients with neuromuscular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of respiratory muscle training on respiratory function in patients with neuromuscular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials |
| title_short | The impact of respiratory muscle training on respiratory function in patients with neuromuscular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials |
| title_sort | impact of respiratory muscle training on respiratory function in patients with neuromuscular disease a systematic review and meta analysis of randomized controlled trials |
| topic | Neuromuscular conditions Physical therapy modalities Pulmonary function Respiratory function tests Muscle strengthening Respiratory therapy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01198-z |
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